Ecology Center in the News

Berkeley High Freshmen Start School Year with Free Water Bottles Thanks to Soda Tax

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Berkeley High Freshmen Start School Year with Free Water Bottles Thanks to Soda Tax
[Press Release]  As classes start this week, 700 students entering Berkeley High are going to school with free, stainless steel, reusable water bottles. Made by the Chico-based company Klean Kanteen, the water bottles were distributed at freshman orientation by Youth Scholars from the Ecology Center’s Youth Environmental Academy. This water bottle giveaway was funded by… Read more »

UPDATE: Gov. Brown Approves $5M for Nutrition Incentive Program That is Helping Farm Economies & Boosting Health

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UPDATE: Gov. Brown Approves $5M for Nutrition Incentive Program That is Helping Farm Economies & Boosting Health
[Press Release] BERKELEY, June 13, 2016 – The healthy food incentive program Market Match is increasing access to fresh produce among Californians who are struggling to feed their families, while giving an economic boost to the state’s embattled farm communities. Any day, Governor Jerry Brown is expected to decide whether to take advantage of federal… Read more »

Watch New Short Film: Berkeley Vs. Big Soda

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Watch New Short Film: Berkeley Vs. Big Soda
On March 28th, 2016 the Ecology Center released “Berkeley vs. Big Soda,” a short film that tells the story of how a community fought the powerful beverage industry to pass a tax on the distribution of sugary beverages. The movie features campaign footage and is told by the diverse coalition members that coalesced to support… Read more »

Market Match’s Role to Increase Healthy Food Access in California – Read in Civil Eats this Week

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Market Match's Role to Increase Healthy Food Access in California - Read in Civil Eats this Week
One of our furthest-reaching programs, Market Match, is getting a nice spotlight in the media. Civil Eats, known for its provoking coverage of all things food-related, ran a piece this week that covered California’s efforts to address the 4 million residents who lack consistent access to adequate food. Market Match is pointed to as a… Read more »

Governor Signed AB 1321 to Help Make Healthy Eating More Affordable for Californians on Food Stamps!

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Governor Signed AB 1321 to Help Make Healthy Eating More Affordable for Californians on Food Stamps!
On Friday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1321, a bill we have been pushing hard for. The Farm Bill contains money to incentivize SNAP (food stamp) recipients to buy fresh produce at farmers’ markets. AB 1321 sets up the framework for California to attract those federal funds, which will make healthy eating choices more… Read more »